59th Meijin Match Game 3 (Replay)

Black: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger
White: Maruyama Tadahisa, Meijin
59th Meijin-sen
Replay Game 3
May 8th and 9th 2001
1.P7g-7f     04:24:00  00:00:00
2.P8c-8d     04:24:00  03:22:00

The replay of the third game of the Meijin match start with a big time 
advantage for Maruyama. On the other hand, Tanigawa now has the black 
pieces, which is usually an advantage.

3.P2g-2f     04:25:00  03:22:00
4.P8d-8e     04:25:00  03:22:00
5.B8h-7g     04:25:00  03:22:00
6.P3c-3d     04:25:00  03:22:00
7.S7i-8h     04:25:00  03:22:00
8.B2bx7g+    04:25:00  03:22:00
9.S8hx7g     04:25:00  03:22:00

It is a little surprising that Maruyama chooses the Kakugawari without 
thinking. Tanigawa knows this opening better than anyone else and 
probably doesn't need much time to think about all kinds of side 
variations. The professionals watching the game expected the R8e 
Yokofudori despite the bad loss that Maruyama suffered in game 2.

10.S3a-2b    04:25:00  03:22:00
11.G6i-7h    04:27:00  03:22:00
12.S7a-7b    04:27:00  03:22:00
13.S3i-3h    04:27:00  03:22:00
14.S2b-3c    04:27:00  03:22:00
15.P9g-9f    04:28:00  03:22:00
16.G4a-3b    04:28:00  03:22:00
17.P4g-4f    04:29:00  03:22:00
18.K5a-4b    04:29:00  03:22:00
19.S3h-4g    04:29:00  03:22:00
20.G6a-5b    04:29:00  03:24:00
21.G4i-5h    04:30:00  03:24:00
22.S7b-8c    04:30:00  03:24:00
23.P6g-6f    04:36:00  03:24:00
24.S8c-8d    04:36:00  03:24:00
25.P3g-3f    04:42:00  03:24:00
26.P7c-7d    04:42:00  03:25:00
27.S4g-5f    04:46:00  03:25:00
28.P6c-6d    04:46:00  03:25:00
29.K5i-6h    04:55:00  03:25:00
30.P7d-7e    04:55:00  03:25:00
31.S5f-6g    04:57:00  03:25:00
32.P9c-9d    04:57:00  03:25:00
33.N2i-3g!?  05:38:00  03:25:00

Diagram 1

A brave decision. The head of this knight becomes a target for attack, 
and it is very hard to see if black has any substantial attacking 
chances.

34.P7ex7f    05:38:00  04:14:00
35.S6gx7f    05:38:00  04:14:00
36.P4c-4d    05:38:00  04:14:00
37.R2h-4h!?  06:02:00  04:14:00

Once Tanigawa makes up his mind, he goes for it. The head of the knight 
stays undefended.

38.P3d-3e    06:02:00  04:29:00

Natural attack, but it is a little strange that Maruyama played this 
after only 15 minutes.

39.P3fx3e    06:13:00  04:29:00
40.P*3f      06:13:00  04:31:00
41.N3g-2e    06:13:00  04:31:00
42.P3f-3g+   06:13:00  04:33:00

Diagram 2

Here 42.S2b seems a good alternative. After 43.G4g P2d Gx3f Px2e Px2e 
K3a leads to a position with chances for both sides. Maruyama took only 
2 minutes here...

43.N2ex3c+   06:13:00  04:33:00
44.K4bx3c    06:13:00  04:34:00
45.R4h-4i    06:13:00  04:34:00
46.B*2g      06:13:00  04:34:00
47.R4i-3i    06:23:00  04:34:00
48.+P3g-3h   06:23:00  04:36:00
49.R3i-6i    06:44:00  04:36:00
50.B2g-3f+   06:44:00  04:39:00
51.P*7b!     06:51:00  04:39:00

It seemed that black was in trouble as the rook was being chased around, 
but this is a good move that forces the white promoted bishop away from 
the action.

52.+B3fx7b   06:51:00  04:51:00
53.P4f-4e    06:52:00  04:51:00

Diagram 3

Blocks the promoted bishop. White can't take this pawn because of S*3d.

54.G5b-4b    06:52:00  04:55:00
55.K6h-7i    06:55:00  04:55:00

Black's king is now much safer than white's king. Here Tanigawa felt 
he was getting the upper hand.

56.K3c-2b    06:55:00  04:57:00
57.P4ex4d    06:58:00  04:57:00
58.P*4f      06:58:00  05:08:00
59.S*4c      07:17:00  05:08:00
60.+B7b-3f   07:17:00  05:16:00
61.B*2e      07:21:00  05:16:00
62.+B3fx2e   07:21:00  05:17:00
63.P2fx2e    07:21:00  05:17:00
64.P4f-4g+   07:21:00  05:17:00
65.G5h-6h    07:23:00  05:17:00
66.B*3f      07:23:00  05:17:00
67.B*5e      07:44:00  05:17:00
68.K2b-1b?   07:44:00  05:36:00

Diagram 4

The first move after the dinner break and a mistake that gives 
Tanigawa's attack a lot of extra power. The right move was 68.N*6c. 
Maruyama feared 69.Bx6d S*7c Sx4b+ Gx4b Bx7c+ Nx7c P*7d +P5h Gx5h Bx5h+ 
G*6h, but after +Bx6i Gx6i B*4g white has the better position. Morishita 
gives the variation 68.N*6c Sx3b+ Gx3b Bx6d S*7c Bx5c+ S*4b which is 
unclear. Why didn't Maruyama see all this? There is something strangely 
suicidal in his play in this game...

69.S4cx4b+   07:57:00  05:36:00
70.G3bx4b    07:57:00  05:36:00
71.G*2b      07:57:00  05:36:00
72.K1bx2b    07:57:00  05:47:00
73.P4d-4c+   07:57:00  05:47:00
74.S*3c?     07:57:00  05:48:00

Diagram 5

The losing move. After 74.K3a +Px4b Kx4b Bx1a+ +P5h Gx5h Bx5h+ R6h +Bx6h 
Gx6h P*7e black is still better, but white at least has hope for attack 
himself. Maruyama took only one minute for 74.S*3c... From now on it 
is all Tanigawa.

75.+P4cx4b   08:05:00  05:48:00
76.R8bx4b    08:05:00  05:49:00
77.P3e-3d    08:05:00  05:49:00
78.S3c-4d    08:05:00  06:05:00

Here 78.G*4d is a little better, but after 79.Px3c+ Kx3c G*3e black 
still has on overwhelming position.

79.B5ex4d    08:06:00  06:05:00
80.R4bx4d    08:06:00  06:05:00
81.G*3e      08:06:00  06:05:00
82.+P4g-5h   08:06:00  06:11:00
83.G3ex4d    08:09:00  06:11:00
84.+P5hx6i   08:09:00  06:11:00
85.K7i-8h    08:09:00  06:11:00
86.P*3b      08:09:00  06:11:00
87.R*6b      08:11:00  06:11:00
Resigns      08:11:00  06:11:00

Final Diagram

Black threatens mate with S*3c next and if white defends with 88.G*3a 
then the black attack becomes unstoppable after 89.S*4b. The final 
position tells it all: Tanigawa has four generals around his king and 
Maruyama has none and the silver on 8d looks terrible. Even more telling 
is the time that Maruyama still has left: 2 hours and 49 minutes! It 
is unclear what has come over Maruyama in this game, but he showed a 
complete lack of fighting spirit. Morishita even commented that he had 
never seen such a lackluster performance in a Meijin game before. With 
a mental attitude like that, Maruyama has no chance to defend his Meijin 
title.